EPWP workers in the John Taolo Gaetsewe and Joe Morolong districts staged a picket in Seoding Road in Kuruman this week demanding to be permanently absorbed and in protest against unfair labour practices.
EPWP workers in the John Taolo Gaetsewe and Joe Morolong districts staged a picket in Seoding Road in Kuruman earlier this week demanding to be permanently absorbed and are protesting against unfair labour practices.
The provincial organiser of the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), Thapelo Thole, said that some EPWP workers’ names appeared on the Persal employee system where they received payslips stating that they earn salaries of R9 000.
“This while they are only being paid R2 400 by the non-governmental organisations under which they are registered,” said Thole.
“We have registered a case with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) because we do not know who is benefiting from the balance of the money.
“EPWP workers do not qualify for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) relief or low-cost housing and cannot apply for social grants because of the salary stipulated on their payslips, while in reality they are living below the breadline.”
Thole added that workers were not paid for working on public holidays and were not entitled to sick or family responsibility leave.
Nupsaw’s Andrew Diraditsile added that no representative from the Department of Roads and Public Works had met with them during the picket in Kuruman.
“Workers must be paid in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. We wanted to show them the evidence that we have regarding the R9 000 payslips, where it appears as if notch increases were awarded without the workers receiving the benefits.”
He added that EPWP workers throughout the Province were affected by the same unfair labour practices.
“It appears that money is being lost, where it is being paid through a middle man.”
The spokesperson for the Department of Roads and Public Works, Zandsile Luphahla, said the department is unaware of any picket that took place in the John Taolo Gaetsewe region this week.
“All our EPWP workers were at work and there were no disruptions,” said Luphala.
He stated that they were aware that Nupsaw had referred a labour matter to the CCMA.
“We are not aware of the R9 000 payslips. However, the matter is sub judice so it would be premature to comment.”
